IRAN TURNS ON ROUHANI AS HE FACES ANGRY MPS
▶ President to answer parliamentary questions over state of economy
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is clinging to power as he faces questions in the country’s Parliament today.
Mr Rouhani has come under attack from all sides – from conservatives, reformists and the people – over the state of the economy.
The US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, and its reimposition of sanctions, have battered the economy, which critics say has exposed failures in his five years in power.
For the first time, Parliament has summoned him to face questions over the collapsing value of the currency, high unemployment and corruption. Politicians also impeached his labour and economy ministers this month, and are expected to take more scalps.
They also have the power to impeach Mr Rouhani, although Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he should see out his term to 2021, despite his harsh criticism of the president’s policies.
Mr Rouhani still has the backing of moderate conservatives, including powerful parliament speaker Ali Larijani, but many hardliners opposed his negotiations with the West and feel vindicated by the uncertainty behind the nuclear deal.
They have led the charge against Mr Rouhani’s cabinet and yesterday sought votes for the impeachment of his industry and transport ministers.
“The best outcome for them is a lame duck president as their chances will go up [for the next election in 2021],” political journalist Fereshteh Sadeghi said.
The reformist faction was key to Mr Rouhani’s election successes in 2013 and last year, regarding him as the best option after the government’s suppression of protests in 2009.
But he has failed to deliver on his promises of easing civil liberties, particularly a vow to release political prisoners and to reduce censorship, say critics.
Reformists also fear they have been tarnished by their association with him, and some have broken ranks to lambast the government’s performance.
“What have we done with this nation? We made them miserable and wretched,” reformist politician Elias Hazrati said on Sunday, as he voted to impeach Economy Minister Masoud Karbasian.
Clement Therme, Iran research fellow for the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said: “No one believes Rouhani will reform anything any more. He was just a tool for the system, appearing to address people’s demands for change without really changing anything.”
Mr Rouhani had emphatic victories in the past two presidential polls. Even after the Guardian Council barred other candidates, there was enthusiasm for his plans to rebuild Iran’s foreign standing and attract investment.
But with the nuclear deal in tatters, there is disillusionment on the streets of Tehran.
Many wealthier Iranians are trying to leave while poorer areas have experienced regular, low-level strikes and protests that have turned violent.
The prices of essential goods are rising rapidly and the situation is expected to worsen when US sanctions on the oil sector return in November.
“Look at my breakfast. I can’t afford fruit anymore,” a motorcycle delivery man said, holding up a piece of bread.
Mr Rouhani’s problems reflect a contradiction of Iran, Mr Therme said. Elections are crucial to its legitimacy but the Iranian people vote for reforms that cannot be delivered.
“The supreme leader supports Rouhani going to the end of his second term because he wants stability,” he said. “But he thinks that if Rouhani delivers on his policies, it will mean the end of the system.”
Mr Rouhani is likely to follow the path of predecessors Mohammad Khatami and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who were silenced by the establishment.
“There’s nothing he can do. His hands are tied. All the focus will now go on 2021,” Sadeghi said.